Cracker dispenser



Dec. 31, a it G. MANN CRACKER DISPENSER Filed Sept. 27,- 1939 5 a 0 1 D 8 WE 4 I. I 5 Z 0 mm 1 1 5 3nventor Garfield .Z. Mann Patented Dec. 31, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to cracker dispensers, and the primary objects of the invention are to provide a device of this character comprising a casing with a plurality of vertical compartments wherein crackers are horizontally placed one upon the other to form tiers or stacks, together with means whereby the lowermost crackers may be withdrawn one at a time. Further objects are to provide a cracker dispenser wherein a large number of crackers are encased in sanitary arrangement and which are available and handy for ready use and removal one at a time without touching the others.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a cracker dispenser embodying the principal features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the same taken substantially on a broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section taken on a broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawing wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, the numeral 5 designates each of the four corner posts or standards of the casing. Said four corner posts are held in rectangular spaced apart relation by a band 6 to which their upper ends are secured, and by a square bottom 1 to which their lower portions are secured. These four posts are preferably made of right angular channel bar sheet metal. The bottom 1 is preferably made of wood, and the four corner posts 5 extend below said bottom to provide legs for supporting the casing.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing, a pair of partitions 8 and 9 divide the casing into four vertical compartments, as designated respectively by the numeral H], which extend from the top to the bottom of said casing. These partitions are preferably 'made of metal and may have central vertical slots ll cut in each extending half their heights and fitted together in rectangular arrangement, or they may be secured together by any other suitable means. These partitions are removable for cleaning, and their bottom edge portions may be seated in cross grooves l2 provided in the bottom I for the purpose of retaining them in right angular position as will be understood.

In the lower portion of each of the vertical compartments II) a pair of metal guide strips 13 have their upper ends secured to the lower portion of the partition 8 and are curved and slanted downward and outward to the outer forward and rear end edges of the bottom '1. Glass side plates 14 are removably placed on the sides of the casing and may extend from the top to the bottom thereof, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, to form a complete closure for the sides. Front and rear glass plates I5 are also removably placed on the front and rear of the casing, and they may terminate short of the bottom I, as at l6, and thus leave openings I! for the bottom portions of the vertical compartments ill for reasons presently set forth. The vertical edges of the glass plates l4 and ii are seated in the channel posts 5 and their central portions rest against the outer vertical edges of the partitions 8 and 9 for the purpose of retaining them in place.

A removable top l8 serves as a closure for the casing. A weight or other plunger I9 is suspended by a cord or spring 20 in the center of each of the compartments It), said suspending elements being connected to the top l8 and removable therewith. For the purpose of illustration, a stack of crackers is shown in one of said compartments. The weight or plunger l9 forces the crackers downwardly, and when their inner edges contact the downwardly and outwardly slanting guide strips l3 and their'outer edges reach the openings ll, they are caused to slant downward and are impelled outward whereby they may be readily removed with the fingers, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

This device is handy and useful on the counters and tables of all eating places, and also in the home. It keeps the crackers fresh, clean and sanitary, and may be readily taken apart for cleaning. It may be made in attractive styles, and the crackers therein are visible by reason of the glass sides.

I claim:

A cracker dispenser consisting of a casing having removable glass sides, two slidably removable partitions dividing the casing into four vertical compartments, said casing having openings in its front and rear glass sides at the foot of said compartments, plunger means for forcing crackers downward within the compartments, and two spaced apart guide strips secured to the lower portion of one of said partitions in each compartment and slanted downward and outward for directing crackers outwardly into said openings.

GARFIELD L'. MANN. 

